Richard Leshin, 77; Longtime Violinist in L.A. Philharmonic

Richard Leshin, a resident of Pacific Palisades since 1969 and a prominent violinist, died on January 6, after a valiant struggle to survive these past few years. He was 77. Leshin began his violin studies in his native Los Angeles, where his mother played piano and his sister was a cellist. As a young man he won the Coleman Chamber Music Award and the UCLA Young Artists competition, He also played in the Tanglewood Music program under Leonard Bernstein. After graduating from Los Angeles High, Leshin attended Julliard School of Music on a full scholarship and, upon graduation, he won a Fulbright grant to study in Paris and subsequently toured Europe to perform. He was the leader of the Amati String Quartet which had a successful debut in New York City. After military service, Leshin joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra as one of the youngest members ever to be accepted. He also was an instructor of music at Duke University and concertmaster of the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. In 1964, Leshin rejoined the L.A. Philharmonic with Zubin Mehta as conductor and remained with the orchestra in the first violin section until 1996, when he retired. He continued playing for numerous movie scores and in chamber music groups, and gave several concerts at the Pierson Playhouse with renowned Palisades pianist Delores Stevens. A true Renaissance man, Leshin was passionate about sailing, skin-diving, reading, gardening and nature. He introduced his children, Dyane and Marty, to the wonders of the wilderness and national parks. Leshin is survived by his wife, Phyllis, daughter Dyane Harwood (husband Craig) and son Marty (wife Tiffany), and cherished granddaughters Avonlea and Marilla Harwood. He is also survived by daughter Tammy O’Conner (husband John), granddaughters Kendall and Paige, and his sister Dorothy Buxbaum. Private services were held on Sunday at Hillside Memorial Park, with four of Leshin’s former colleagues in the L.A. Philharmoic playing beautiful chamber music in his memory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Harmony Project, 817 Vine Street, Los Angeles, CA 90038 and/or the American Cancer Society.